Excavating-machine.



10.848,742. A PATBNTED APR.2,1907.

J.'HBLM.

EXGAVATING MAGHINE. APPLIUATION FILED MAE. 7. 190s.

s SHEETS-SHEET 1.

J. HELM.

EXGAVATING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 7. Igoe.

PATENTED APR. 2, 1907.

8 SHEETS-SHEET Z.

PATENTED APR. 2, 1907.

J. HELM. EXCAVATING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR. 7, 1906.

8 SHEETS-SHEET 3.

PATENTED APR. 2, 1907.

J. HELM.

EXCAVATING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAR.7,1906.

8 SHEETS-SHEET 4,

r 1 J l 1| lNm-848,742; Y .PATENTED APR.2,1907.

LHBLM.

EXCAVATING MACHINE. APPLICATION FILED MAR. 7, 1906.'

8 SHEETS-SHEET 5.

Np. 848,742. PATENTED APR. 2, 1907.v J. HELM.

EXGAVATING MACHINE.

APPLIGATION FILED MAL?, 1906.

s SHEETS-SHEET e.

Mzor: Jibtjzm',

g MM/ PATENTED APR. 2, 1907.

J. HELM.

EXGAVATING MACHINE.

APPLIGTION FILED MAB.. 7, 1906.

J/zzesses.-

. (/7/ 'f df?.

PATENTED APR. 2, 1907.

J. HELM. y EXGAVATING MACHINE.

APPLICATION FILED MAE. l7, 1906.

8 SHEBTS-SHEET 8.

UNITED STATES PATENT oEEIoE.

JOHN ELM, OF ST. LOUIS, MISSOURI.

EXCAVATING-MACHINE. 7

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented April 2, 19o?.

Application filed March 7,1906. Serial No. 304.613.

' to provide a machine for continuously out# ting a trench to its fulldepth, to provide means which will hold the buckets and diggersyieldingly to their work, to provide improved means for raising andlowering the excavating or digger frame, and other objects hereinaftermore fully appearing.

My invention consists in the parts and the arrangements and combinatlonsof parts hereinafter described and claimed.

In the accompanying drawings, forming a part of this specification andwherein like symbols refer to like arts Wherever 'they occur, Figure 1is -a si e elevation of the rear` portion of my machine. Fig. 2 is aside-elevation of that part of my machine above the rear wheels with thehopper in section to show the drag conveyer. Fig. 3 is a 1an view of therear part of my machine. Flg. 4 is a vertical sectlon on the line 4 4 ofFig. 3. Fig. 5 is a horizontal section on the line 5 5 of Fig. 1. framewith the cable-sheave mechanism 'in section. Fig. 7 is'a longitudinalsection on the line 7 7 of Fig. 6. 8 is a vertical section on the line 88 of Fig. 3. Fig. 9 is a vertical section of the pro elling and diggerframe hoisting shaft on 9 9 of Fig. 2. Figs. 10 and 11 are detail viewsirl-'elevation of the ratchet-Wheels'shown in Fig. 9.

My machine comprises a lower rectangular frame made up oftwo'longitudinal beams 1 and 2, connected at intermediate points by tiemembers. (Not shown.) Columns 3 are located at the ends of said beams 1and 2. Said columns 3 support an up er rectangular frame comprisingongitudinalbeams 4 and 5 and tie members. (Not shown.) Intermediate thecolunms are struts 6, 7, and8. The above-described structure will behereinafter referred to as the main frame. Said main frame is suitablymounted on wheels 9. A base-plate 10 is mounted on said lowerlongitudinal beams 1 and 2 and extends from the front ond of the mainframe to a point rear- Fig. 6 is a side elevation of the diggert mountedon said front end, which is not shown in the drawings. Above said rearWheels, on said base-plate 10, are mounted engine-frames 11 and 12. Thefront portion of said engine-frames 11 and 12 constitute the mountingfor horizontal reversingengines 13 and 14. Said engine-frames 11 and 12are rearwardly and upwardly extended and have centrally arranged thereonbearings 15 and 16, in which isA mounted a transversely-arranged e'ne-shaft 17. Said engine-shaft 17 is provided with crank-arms 18 and 19on each end outside of said bearings 15 and 16. Engine connecting-rods20 and 21 are connected by crank-pins 22 23 With said cranks 18 and 19.Said connecting-rods 20 and 21 connect with the engines 13 and 14 in theusual manner. r Said engine-shaft 17 has mounted thereona pinion 24 anda gear 25. Adjacent said engine-shaft .bearings 15 and 16 saidengine-frames 11 and 12 have bearings 26 and 27, in which is arranged atransverse shaft 28, Which Will be referred to as thebucket-chain-operating shaft. Said shaft has mounted thereon a gear 29,which meshes with said engine-shaft.. pinion 24. A shiftableclutch cleviee 30 ont. said chain-operating shaft 28 is adapted'to age a clutchlmem er 31,

interlockingly e to va sprocket-Wheel 32,

which is attache loosely mounted on said shaft 28. A forked. rocker-arm33 engages a groove 30l in said. shiftableclutch member 30. Said arm 33isV connected to a rod 34, which connects with a E hand-lever suitablyarranged for convenient. manipulation near the engines 13 and v14.

Said hand-lever is not shown in the drawings. A

Said engine-frames 11 and 12 are further provided with bearings 35 and36, in which a transverselyfarranged shaft 37 is mounted.

Said shaft vhas a dri -gear 38- mounted thereon which meshes with theengine-shaft pinion 24. Adjoining one of the bearings 36 of said shaft37 is a cable-drum 39, rotatably mounted on said shaft 37. Said drum 39is laterally held b means of a collar 40, attached to said sliaft 37 andlocated in a recess 41 in the end of the'cable-drum hub 42. Saidcable-drum 39 has a flange 43 adjacent said bearing 36, and on theoppote side said drum has an irregularly-extended shell portion 44.Adjacent the drum-gear 38 said shell 44 has a circumferential portion 45, arallel with' the shaft 37, which 1s the seat or a brake-band 46.Said brake-band 46 is conward of the rear Wheels.- A steam-boiler isAIIO nected to a rocker-arm 47. Said rocker-arm 47 is connected to ahand-lever 48 by means of a rod 49. Intermediate said brake-band portion45 and the cable-drum 39 is a circumferential shelf 50, on which isfixedly mounted a ratchet-wheel 51. Said brakeband portion 45 has aninteriorly-arranged cylindrical seat 52, on which engageradiallyshiftable clutch-blocks 53. Said clutchblocks 53 havelongitudinally-arranged proj ections 54, which slidably engagecorrespond-I ing recesses in the gear 38. Intermediate the cable-drumhub 42 and said gear 38 and slidably mounted on said shaft 37 is asleeve 55. Said clutch-blocks 53 and said sleeve 55 are connectedtogether by links 56. Said sleeve 55 has a diametrically-arranged slot57, in which is mounted a key 58. Said shaft 37 has an elongated slot 59in alinement with said slot 57 in the sleeve 55. A reciprocating rod 60is arranged in an axially-arranged bearing in said shaft 37 Said rod 60is connected to said sleeve 55 by said key 58. Said rod 60 extendsbeyond the bearing and has mounted thereon an exteriorly-threaded sleeve61, which bears against a collar 62 on said extension. Said threadedsleeve 61 extends through a bracket-arm 63, mounted on the engine-frame11. Said bracket-arm 63 is interiorly screw-threaded to coperate withthe threaded sleeve 61. Said sleeve 61 has a crank-arm 64 on its endportion. Said crank-arm 64 has a pin connection with a rod 65, Whichisconnected to a hand-lever 66, located for convenient manipulation nearthe front end of the engine.

Intermediate the driving-gear 38 and the opposite shaft-bearing 35 isrotatably mounted on said shaft a propelling-gear v67, which meshes witha gear 68, mounted on the rear axle 69. Said rotatably-mounted gear 67has an extended sleeve-70 ad'acent said driving-gear 38. A collar 71,-edly mounted on said shaft, is arranged in a recess 72 in the end ofsaid sleeve 70. Between the end of said sleeve 70 and said bearin isiixedly mounted on said sha t 37. On said extended sleeve 70 is keyed ahub 74, which has a portion extended therefrom in the form of a shell75. Adjacent the gear 38 said shell 75 is circumferentially arranged'andis parallel with the shaft.' Said circumferential part 76 is-the seatfor a brake-band 77, which is arranged to be manipulated by means of arod connected to aV hand-lever, conveniently located near the engines.Adjacent said brakeband seat 76 said shell projects out to form acylindrical shelf 78, on which are fixedly mounted two ratchet-wheels 79and 80, which are reversely arranged. Saidratchetwheels 79 and 80 arecontrolled by pawls 81 and 82, which are connected by a rod to ahand-lever near the engines. The ratchetwheel 51 also has a pawl 83,which is controlled by means of a rod and hand-lever .said threadedends.

35 acollar 73- near the engines. Said connecting-rods and hand-leversare not shown on the drawings. Interi'orly of said brake-band portion 76is a seat 84 for clutch-blocks 85. Said seat 84 is arrangedcircumferentially parallel with the shaft 37 Said clutch-blocks 85 havelongitudinally-arranged projections 86, which slidably engagecorresponding recesses in the gear 38. Intermediate the hub 74 and'thedriving-gear 38 a shiftable sleeve 87 -is mounted on said shaft 37 Saldsleeve 87 and the clutch-blocks 85 are connected together by links 88.Said sleeve 87 has a diametricallyarranged slot 89, in which is mounteda key 90. The shaft has an elongated slot 91 in alinement with the slot89 in said sleeve 87. A reciprocating rod 92 is arranged in an axialbore in the shaft 37. Said rod 92 is connected to the sleeve 87 by saidkey 90. Said rod 92 extends beyond said bearing 36 and has mountedthereon an exteriorly-'screw-threaded sleeve 93, which bears against acollar 94 on said extension. Said threaded sleeve 93 extends throughabracket-arm 95, mounted on the engine-frame 12, which bracket-arm 95'isinteriorly screw-threaded to coperate with said screw-threaded sleeve93. Said sleeve 93 has a crank-arm 96 on its end portion. Said crank-arm96 has a pin connection with a rod 97, which is connected to ahand-lever, located for convenient manipulation near. the front end ofthe engines. Said hand-lever is not shown on the drawings. The shaft 37is threaded on ends 98, projecting from the bearings, and nuts 99 engageAbove said engineshaft 37 bearings 100 and 101 are mounted on the upperlongitudinal members 4 and 5 for a .transversely-arranged shaft 102.Mounted on said shaft 102 is a sprocketwheel 103 in alinement with thesprocketwheel 32 on the bucket-chain-operating shaft 28. Asprocket-chain 104 coperates with said sprocket-wheels'103 and 32. Alsomounted on said shaft 102 are two sprocketwheels 105 and 106 for 'thebucket-chains 107. Said sprocket-Wheels 105 and 106 are spaced apartaccording to the width of bucket used..

Intermediate the-upper and lower longitudinal beams are longitudinalbeams 108, on which are mounted bearings 109 for a transversely-arrangedshaft 110. Said shaft 110 projects beyond the longitudinal sides of themain frame. Said main frame has mounted thereon an overhangingbracket-arm 111, in which is a bearing 112 for theextension of saidshaft 110. Intermediate said bearing 112 and the main frame aconveyer-belt guide-pulley 113 is mounted on said shaft 1 10, on which alongitudinal conveyer-belt 1 14 is arranged. On said shaft 110 is mou eda gear 115, which meshes with the gear IOO IIO

on the engine-shaft 17. On theintermediate struts 8 are mounted bearings116 and 117,

in which is mounted a transversely-arranged shaft 118. On said shaft 118is a-gear 119, which meshes'with the gear 115 on the shaft 110. The endof said shaft 118 is provided with a bevel-pinion 120. On said struts 7and 8 are mounted bearings 121 `and 122, in which is mounted alongitudinally-arranged shaft 123. On said shaft 123 is mounted abevel-gear 124, which meshes with said bevelpinion 120. On said shaft123 is also mounted sprocket-wheels 125 and 126. On angleirons 204,extending from the o posite side of the main frame, are mounted earings127 for a longitudinally-arranged shaft 128, on which are mountedsprocket-wheels 129. Sprocket-chains 130 and 131 engage saidsprocket-wheels 125, 126, and 129. Said longitudinal shaft-bearings 127are slidable transversely on guide-bars 132 133. bearings 127 areadjustably held in place by means of threaded rods 134, attached to thebearings 127. Said rods 134 extend through fixed blocks 135. On eac-hside of said blocks 135 are adjusting-nuts 136 and 137, arranged on saidthreaded rods 134. A dragconveyer belt 138 is attached to saidsprocketchains 130 and 131. Arranged below said drag-conveyer belt 138is a sheet iron or steel hopper 139, provided with a chute 140, directlyover the longitudinal conveyer-belt 114. Said hopper 139 has anadditional chute 141 adjacent the adjustable sprocketwheel sh aft 128,which receives the excavated material when it is to be dumped intowagons. In this case a shut-oill gate of suitable construction may bearranged in the chute to shut off the flow to the longitudinal conveyer114.

Rearwardly ofthe rear wheels is vertically mounted a reciprocatingdigger or excavating frame 142, comprising a box-girder built up of twochannel-bars 143 and 144, connected together by plate members 145 and146. Said digger-frame 142 has an upper guidebearing, which comprises atransversely-arranged Shaft 147, mounted in bearings 148 149, which aremounted on the top longitudinal beams 4 and 5. Intermediate saidbearings the shaft is provided with a guideroller 150 for thedigger-frame 142. Parallel with said shaft is a shaft'151, on which ismounted a guide-roller 152. Said rollers 150 and 152 comprise the frontand rear guides for the digger-frame 142. 'Said shaft 151 is positionedby means of tie members 153 154, which connect the two shafts 147 151,adjacent the guide-rollers 150 and 152. Said shaft 151 is providedwithrollers 155'and 156,which bear on the upper longitudinal members 4and. 5. The shaft 147 is provided with a sheave 157, which is inalinement with the cable-drum 39. Said tie members 153 and 154 havebearings for guide-'rollers`158 and 159, which guide the digger-framelaterally.

On the lower longitudinal members 1 and 2 Said are slidably mountedbrackets and 161, which are provided with bearings. 162 and 163 for atransversely-arranged shaft 164. On said shaft 164 is centrally mounteda guide-roller 165, which comprises the rear lower'guide for thedigger-frame 142. On

each side of said roller 165 are bearings 166 167 for said shaft 164.Said bearings 166 and 167 are mounted on extensions of the brackets 160and 161. On said bracket extensions are also bearings 168 and 169 forshafts 170 and 171. On the ends of said shafts 176 and 171 areguide-rollers 172 and 173. Said bearings 168 and 169 are angularlyarranged, so that the rollers 172 and 173 will bear on the i'ianges ofthe channel-beams 143 and 144. Rollers 174 and 175 constitute lateralguides for said digger-frame 142. Said slidable guide-bearings 160 and161 are suitably connected to coil-springs 176, the other ends of whichare fastened to the lower longitudinal members by brackets 177.

The digger-frame has mounted on its ends bearings 178 and 179,-in whichare mounted shafts 180 and 181, provided with sprocketwheels 182 and183. Near the lower end of the di ger-frame and interiorly arranged is asldab e block 184, in which is a bearing for a shaft 185. On said shaft185 is mounted a cable-sheave 186. A fixedl -mounted block 187 isarranged above said s idable block 184 in the interior of saiddigger-frame 142. In-

termediate said fixed block 187 and movable block 184 are springs 188.The ends of said sheave-shaft are vertically movable in slots 189, cutin the side plates 145 and 146 of the digger-frame 142.

The end of a cable X is fastened by a ca- .bucket-chain shaft 102 arestandards 197,

mounted on the upper lon itudinal members 4 and 5, in which standar s197 are bearings 198 for a transversely-arranged shaft 199. On saidshaft are mounted sprocket-wheels 200. Below said'sprocket-wheels 200and on the upp'er longitudinal beams 4 and 5 are bearings 201 for atransversely-arranged shaft 202. On said shaft aremounted sprocketwheels 203. engage wheels 203.

The operation of my machine is as follows: The machine having beenproperly located, the engines are set in motion. The bucketchainshaft-clutch member 30 is thrown in and the bucket-chain is set inmotion. The cable-drum band-brake 46 is released, and

Bucket chains 107 IIO the digger-frame 142 descends by its own weight.The buckets cut out and carry u Ward the material as it is excavated bytiife descent of said digger-frame. When the required de th of trenchhas been attained, the band-bra e 46 is again ti htened, holding saiddigger-frame at that 1level. The machine is now moved -ahead byreleasing the pro elling-shaft band-brake 7 7 and throwing in t eratchet-pawl for forward movement. The propelling-clutch is now thrownintoaction, .and the machine moves forward. As said machine proceeds thebuckets cut out and convey the earth upward. As the buckets pass overthe guide sprocket-wheels 203 their contents are emptied into the hopperand onto the drag-conveyer belt 138. Said belt conveys the earth to thechute 140, whence it passes to the longitudinal conveyer 114, whichconveysthe earth to the rear and refills the trench. In case it isdesired to load the excavated material on wa ons the chute 140 is closedby the ate and t e earth is carried to the side of t e machine. Theforward movement of the machine is dependent upon the nature of the soilto be excavated. -In the case of soft material the ma-w chine can movealong continuously; but in the case of hard soil the forward motion isstopped at intervals. If the machine is moving forward too rapidly forthe kind of soil or if an obstruction, such as a stone, is encountered,the springs 176 will permit the diggerframe to rock on the shaft 147.The bandbrakes permit ready control of the propulsion of the machine andthe raising and lowering of the digger-frame. The cable is maintained ata uniform tension by means of the springs 188.

Obviously the device is capable of considerable modification within thescope of my invention, and therefore I do not Wish to be Vmain frame,excavating means, a transversely-arranged drag-'conveyer and a loitudinally-arranged conveyer, said longitu inal conveyor being adaptedto receive the excavated material from said drag-conveyer. 4. Anexcavating-machine comprism a main frame, having top and bottomlongitudinal beams, an excavating-frame, and guiderollers arranged onshafts mounted on said top and bottom beams in which saidexcavating-frame is mounted.

5. An excavating-machine comprising a main frame, provided with upperand lower longitudinal beams, an excavating-frame, guide-rollers forsaid excavating-frame arranged on shafts mounted on said upper and lowerlongitudinal beams, and resilient means connected with saidexcavating-frame for yieldingly holding said excavating-frame to itswork.

6. In an excavating-machine, an excavating-frame, and means forvertically moving said excavatin -frame, said-means comprisinga cable, awinding-drum, a sheave for said ca le, and yielding means for holdingsaid sheave in position.

7. An' excavating-machine comprising an excavating-frame, a cable foroperating said excavating-frame, a winding-drum for said cable, a shaftVon which said winding-drum is mounted, a clutch for operativelyconnecting said drum and said shaft, means for propelling said machine,a gear on said windingdrum shaft, said gear being operatively connectedwith said propelling means, and a clutch for connecting said gear Withsaid shaft.

8. An excavating-machine comprising a main frame, an engine-shaftmounted on said main frame, a pinion on said engine-shaft, a gearengaging said pinion, a shaft on which said gearis mounted, means onsaid shaft for propelling said machine, an excavating-frame, means onsaid shaft for vertically reci rocating said excavating-frame, and cutches mounted on said shaft which control the connection anddisconnection of said propelling means and said reciprocating means withsaid shaft.

IOO

9. An excavating-machine comprising a said machine, said propellingmeans comprising a winding-drum, a cable, and yielding means adapted toregulate the tension of said cable.

10. An excavating-machine comprising a main frame, an excavating-frame,an o erating-cable supporting said excavatingrame, a cable-sheavemounted within said excavating-frame, and springs interposed betweensaid sheave and a part fixed on said excavating-frame.

11. In an excavating-machine, a main frame, an excavating-framereciprocatingly mounted in guides 1n said main frame, a sheave mountedin a sliding block in said excavating-frame, s rings inter osed betweensaid sliding b ock and a ixed abutment on said excavating-frame, and acable passing under said sheave and attached to a winding-drum on saidmain frame whereby IIO IZO

zo mounted on said main frame and laterally said excavating-frame can bereciprocated l and yieldingly supported.

12. In an excavating-machine, a main frame, a traction-carriage for saidmain frame, means for propelling said carriage, an l excavating-framereciprocatingly mounted in said main frame, upper and lower guides 5 onsaid main frame for said excavating-l frame, said lower guide beinglongitudinally I movable and yieldingly held on said main frame, wherebysaid excavating-haine can l be yieldingly held to its Work. i

13. In an excavatingfmachine, a main i frame, a vertically-movableexcavatingframe mounted in guides on said main frame, means forreciprocating and supportf ing said excavating-frame in working posiltion, sprocket-Wheels at the top and bottom of said excavating-frame, adriving-shaftl disposed relative to said excavating-frame,sprocket-wheels on said driving-shaft, idler sprocket-wheels mounted onsaid main frame between said driving sprocket-wheels and saidexcavating-flame, said idlers being tangentially disposed relative tothe sprocket-wheels Yon said excavating-frame in the direction ofreciprocation of said frame, and an endlesschain excavating-bucketconveyer passing around the sprocket-wheels on said excavating-frame,and between said idler sprocketwheels and around said driving sprocket-Wheels.

Signed at- St. Louis, Missouri, this 3d day oll March, 1906.

JOHN HELM.

lVit-nesses:

WM. M. CADY, J. B. M'Eeowx'.

